Researchers from the University of North Carolina and the University of California surveyed 6,544 students every six months from grades 6 to 8 through grades 8 to 10. They found that the four systems interact to influence a young person's choices about using alcohol. For example, if parents carefully supervised their pre-teen, the child was less likely to follow the examples of peers who drank. However, if parents abused alcohol or if there were conflicts in the family, the child was more likely to drink with peers.
The more often that teens observed someone in their networks drinking, the more likely they were to follow suit.
This study appeared in the journal Child Development.
Labels: peer-pressure, underage_drinking, social_system
Posted By: Aspen Education Group